hk blues Posted April 28, 2021 Posted April 28, 2021 53 minutes ago, Tommy T. said: I disagree... One can find many places that are "the same" or very similar, within any given country. I just made a comment based on what was posted, HK... USA has an incredible diversity of locations, climates, etc... I, personally, chose Philippines because of climate, people, culture. Definitely, the Phils... is not for everyone. Depends on your definition of same, or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post manofthecoldland Posted April 28, 2021 Popular Post Posted April 28, 2021 'Mr. Turbo' hasn't really listed any of the more personal likes or preferances that would narrow the field down, other than "I like to golf a bunch". Access to medical care, decent internet, perhaps larger markets and malls, etc. are what most are looking for when they come here and all these items would eliminate some locations, and elevate others. If he wants to make convenient golfing a regular part of his life, he could start with a list of the country's courses along with his other perceived needs. If he intends to socialize with lots of people who speak English and share a common Western cultural background with him, that would also eliminate many locations. A large number of Westerners here don't heavily socialize in areas where they are scattered due to many reasons, one of which is the different trasportation systems here that make quick and easy movement .... slow and difficult in certain areas. Expat retirees here usually have certain things in common, like: having a Pinay wife or GF, an unwillingness to retire in their home country for reasons of economics or disatisfaction with their home cultural trends, a willingness to give up a lot of the normal home country lifestyle elements, a willingness to adapt to a huge array of new norms, and foresake the comfortable predictability of the old. I'm sure there are many, many other things. One thing that I am unaware of, if it exists here, is large 'colonies' of retired expat couples that recreate a semblance of a community akin to one in their home country here like you would find in other popular retirement countries. I know we have a few popular places where foreign retirees congregate, but usually one member of the couple has a Pinoy cultural background. Single male retirees seem common enough, but I seldom have come across, say a retired American couple (missionaries don't count in my book). This may be of no concern to Mr. Turbo, but single males coming here seldom want to rebuild their lives as a duplicate version of what they left behind for a penny on the pound in a tropical climate unless there many extenuating circumstances involved and a variety of personal reasons to do so. 'Mr. Turbo' should definetly keep the PI on his list of possible retirement destinations and continue researching his many other options in other countries as well as other parts of the USA. Prioritizing all your needs, and then your wants along with a personal importance value weighting, would be a start. Charting, quantifying and forming some type of qualitative system will only provide some general directions, but until you actually start traveling and having your own personal experiences, you will at least learn something even more important..... Places you do NOT want to consider for many of your retirement years. Good luck with your future. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebie Posted April 28, 2021 Posted April 28, 2021 I based myself in the very centre of Makati...convenient for malls but of greater importance was 3 traffic lights to airport and in first few years here managed 28 trips both nationally and internationally. Easy to get to HK or Thailand and easy for Europe and Australia. Hospitals, no brownouts and constant wifi all here. However when I want a dose of beach or provincel life WAS very easy to head to Bantaya, Siquijor, Dumaguete area, Siargao, and a host of other good easy to bein provincial areas. For me this works as I own my own condo. Many golf courses just a few kms south of Ayala Alabang , which is 20kms from Makati. Im happy with the life I chose though in covid times I prefer one month in Makati then one month in an airbnb house in some of the locations mentioned above. However despite all the words I could use, we all have our own preferences and you need to be here to experience the good the bad the illogical and the frankly bizarre stuff that happens when you live here. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy F. Posted April 28, 2021 Posted April 28, 2021 3 hours ago, Tommy T. said: Not trying to sound negative here, but... If someone prefers to live in a place that is like the US, then why not just settle in some place in the US? Why come to the Philippines at all? Just my thoughts... Travel time to the Philippines would be 15 minutes instead of 15 hours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post graham59 Posted April 28, 2021 Popular Post Posted April 28, 2021 It's just the pollution in Manila that would concern me (having lived both there and in the province). 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softail Posted April 28, 2021 Posted April 28, 2021 15 hours ago, Tommy T. said: Not trying to sound negative here, but... If someone prefers to live in a place that is like the US, then why not just settle in some place in the US? Why come to the Philippines at all? Just my thoughts... The area has a multitude of foreigners, have made a several good friends. The area is very safe, am able to walk anywhere day or night safely. There are two very good hospitals in the area so health care is good, very important for people in my age bracket. Pretty much anything I need is available with 2 good shopping malls, several good grocery stores as well as a S and R. I love the Philippines and it’s people. I am no stranger to 3rd world conditions. In 1960 my parents and myself found ourselves stranded in the Galápagos Islands. At the time it was very isolated from the rest of the world, is the highlight of my life. That adventure turned out to be 2 years before we were able to leave. After that we live in Quito Ecuador, Columbia and Panama. I am very close to my wife’s family and love the get togethers which are frequent. They are my family. The Philippines is a great “launch point” for all the country’s in Asia, something I have been taking advantage of. I hope this comes close to answering your question, if not, I will try to enlighten you further. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted April 28, 2021 Forum Support Posted April 28, 2021 (edited) 53 minutes ago, softail said: The area has a multitude of foreigners, have made a several good friends. The area is very safe, am able to walk anywhere day or night safely. There are two very good hospitals in the area so health care is good, very important for people in my age bracket. Pretty much anything I need is available with 2 good shopping malls, several good grocery stores as well as a S and R. I love the Philippines and it’s people. I am no stranger to 3rd world conditions. In 1960 my parents and myself found ourselves stranded in the Galápagos Islands. At the time it was very isolated from the rest of the world, is the highlight of my life. That adventure turned out to be 2 years before we were able to leave. After that we live in Quito Ecuador, Columbia and Panama. I am very close to my wife’s family and love the get togethers which are frequent. They are my family. The Philippines is a great “launch point” for all the country’s in Asia, something I have been taking advantage of. I hope this comes close to answering your question, if not, I will try to enlighten you further. I agree with your comments 100%, Softail. My comments were to address someone who seems to prefer the western life and culture. I actually have no idea what his true or total aspirations may be regarding living in a country foreign to his origins... Davao City, where I live, has most of the conveniences of anywhere in USA. However, things are not as "convenient" always. It can take more than a day just to find and buy ingredients to make a western style meal. It can be an adventure all on its own. That's just the flow of life here. I am okay with this and enjoy the slower (mostly) way things go. Not everyone can deal with this. Personally, I did not move here to be associated with or be close to other Americans (or Canadians, eh?). If so, I would move back to Seattle, or Chicago or ??? USA? So I am happy living with the locals and have been making some good acquaintances who may someday become friends. Almost all I have encountered have been very friendly, helpful and welcoming to their country... By the way... I have read many positive reports about life for western ex-pats in Equador. It looks to be affordable and also so close to USA to be convenient too... I just now read your comments about living in the Philippines - Pakikisama? They sum up my own experiences fairly completely... Edited April 29, 2021 by Tommy T. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softail Posted April 29, 2021 Posted April 29, 2021 10 minutes ago, Tommy T. said: I agree with your comments 100%, Softail. My comments were to address someone who seems to prefer the western life and culture. I actually have no idea what his true or total aspirations may be regarding living in a country foreign to his origins... Davao City, where I live, has most of the conveniences of anywhere in USA. However, things are not as "convenient" always. It can take more than a day just to find and buy ingredients to make a western style meal. It can be an adventure all on its own. That's just the flow of life here. I am okay with this and enjoy the slower (mostly) way things go. Not everyone can deal with this. Personally, I did not move here to be associated with or be close to other Americans (or Canadians, eh?). If so, I would move back to Seattle, or Chicago or ??? USA? So I am happy living with the locals and have been making some good acquaintances who may someday become friends. Almost all I have encountered have been very friendly, helpful and welcoming to their country... By the way... I have read many positive reports about life for western ex-pats in Equador. It looks to be affordable and also so close to USA to be convenient too... I just now read your comments about living in the Philippines - Paksisma? sorry... I cannot read that title from here... I will look again and try to correct... I am sure that Ecuador is very affordable and such. When I lived there, they were still taking heads a few miles up the Guayas river and were readily available in the town markets 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum Support Tommy T. Posted April 29, 2021 Forum Support Posted April 29, 2021 1 minute ago, softail said: they were still taking heads a few miles up the Guayas river and were readily available in the town markets Taking heads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softail Posted April 29, 2021 Posted April 29, 2021 3 minutes ago, Tommy T. said: Taking heads? A shrunken head is a severed and specially prepared human head that is used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes. Headhunting has occurred in many regions of the world, but the practice of headshrinking has only been documented in the northwestern region of the Amazon rainforest.[1] Jivaroan peopleswhich includes the Shuar, Achuar, Huambisa and Aguaruna tribes from Ecuador and Peru are known to have shrunken human heads. Shuar people call a shrunken head a tsantsa,[2] also transliterated tzantza. Many tribe leaders would show off their heads to scare enemies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrunken_head 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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